Elegtbigal cootectoe if pipe couplings foe aie beakes



(No Model.) B'Sheets-Sheet 1.

HJLAD. ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IN PIPE UOUPLINGS FOR AIR BRAKES.

N0. 296,547. Patented Apr. 8, 1884 A/A/A/ 3 sheets sfieet 2.

(N0 model.)

E PLAD, ELBGTRIGAL-UONN-EGTOR IN PIPE COUPLINGS FOB, AIR BRAKES.

Patented Apr. 8,1884,

// lld INVENTOR WITNESSES in Z v a d. Attorney (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3, H. FLAR- ELEGTRIGALIGONNBUKOR IN PIPE COUPLINGS FORAIR BRAKES. No. 296,547. Patented Apr. 8, 1884.

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HENRY FLAD, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,547, dated April 8,1884.

Application filed Juno 7, 1883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hnr RY FLAD, of St. Louis, in the county of St.Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electrical Connectors in PipeOouplings for Air-Brakes;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a combined coupling for hose or pipes, andelectrical conductors arranged therein.

On the same date with this application I have filed two applications forpatents for improvement-sin electric air-brakes for railway-' cars; andthe main object of my present invention is to provide means whereby theelectrical conductors which are arranged in the air-pipes on the carsmay be automatically connected and disconnected between carssimultaneously with the coupling and uncoupling of the air-pipes orconnecting-hose. It

will be obvious, however, that the invention may be used for couplingpipes or hose and inclosed electrical conductors used for any purpose.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations of devices foraccomplishing the object above stated, and will be readily understoodfrom thefollowing particular description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal centralsection of an air-hose coupling provided with electrical connectingdevices according to my invention, the hosecoupling being such as usedin the hlallinckrodt system of air-brakes. Fig. 2 is a detached sideview, and Fig. 3 an end view, of the insulating-casing for thespring-controlled connecting-rod. Fig. 4 is an outer end view of one ofthe coupling-clutches. Fig. 5 is a section of the same on line a of Fig.a. Fi

6is asection on line so a. Fig. 7 is a section on the line a Fig. 8 is alongitudinal central section of a Vestinghouse hose-coupling pro videdwith. devices for connecting electrical conductors according to myinvention. Fig. 9 is a similar section of another form of est- (Nomodel.)

inghouse coupling provided with my improvement. Fig. 10 is a detachedside view of one of the insulating-casings. Fig. 11 is a longi tudinalcentral section of a coupling commonly used in vacuuur air-bralrcsystems, the same being provided with 1lly"ll1l1)IOV6l11l1t-.

Referring to Fig. 1, A A are the metallic thimbles of the members of thecoupling, which are secured to the hose B B in the usual manner. C- Gare the coupling-clutches screwed onto the thimbles, and D D are annularvulcanized-indiarubber gaskets filled within the clutches, and havingoutwardly projecting flanges,whi ch are clamped between the innershoulders of the clutches and the ends of the thimbles. When theclutches are engaged, the edges of these gaskets come together and forman air-tight joint. V

In each of the thimbles A is fitted a tubular casing, E, formed of somenon-conductor of electricity, preferably hard rubber or gutta-percha,said casing being formed of two semi-cylindrical parts, 0 and c, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, having heads in which are openings 0 0 0 o.

In each head of the casing is formed a central opening, 1), half of thesaid opening being in each part of the head.

Centrally in the casing, and projecting at each end through theopenings 1) p, is an ranged a metallic rod, F, as shown in Fig. 1,

said rod having at its outer projecting end a flat metallic head, f, andbeing provided at an intermediate portion of its length, within thecasing, with a shoulder, f, against which bears one end of a spiralspring, f surrounding the rod and having its inner end bearing againstthe inner head of the casing. The tension of the spring f is such thatit tends to force the rod outward, the outward movement of the rod beingsuch that its head will stand out beyond the rubber gasket, thismovement being limited by the shoulder f,whi.ch comes against the headof the casing.

In placing the rod F in position the two parts of the casing E areseparatedi The rod is placed in the notches in the parts of the heads ofone portion of the casing, with the spring f 2 and the shoulder f inproper position, and

4 5 thereof.

then the other semi-cylindrical portion is applied to complete thecasing, which is inserted in the thimble A and secured by screws 8 8. Tothe inner end of each rod F is to be elec- 5 trically connected, bysoldering or otherwise,

the end of an insulated conducting-wire, \V, which, it will beunderstood, leads through the hose and air-pipes of a railway-car whenmy invention is applied for coupling the pipe and i conductors of anelectric air-brake system; or

the wires may be led through sections of pipe or hose of any length forother purposes.

It will be obvious that when the two clutches of the hose-coupling arecoupled together the I heads of two opposite rods, F F, will beautomatically brought into contact with each other, and the rods willboth be forced slightly inward, the two springs acting to press theheads together and maintain a good though flexible 2o electricalcontact.

2 5 struction, each having radially-projecting segmental flanges b bdiametrically opposite each other, and segmental hooks I) Z) adjacent tothe flanges and projecting forward beyond them. Between the flanges andhooks on one 0 side are spaces, as at I), through which the hooks of anopposite clutch may be passed, and when two clutches are thus broughttogether and turned in opposite directions the hooks of one may beengaged behind the flanges of the other, and an efficient couplingeffected.

In regard to the form ofhose-coupling shown in Fig. 8, it is onlynecessary to say that it is a form in common use, the two members of 0the coupling belng dissimilar.

The insulating-casings E and E are each formed of two semi cylindricalportions, substantially as shown in Fig. 2, and are fitted into the twothimbles A and A and the chambers in front The spring-rod F in thecasing E projects outward a considerable distance into the chamber'ofthe coupling member K, and is adapted to enter the chamber of thecoupling member K when the latter is inserted in the former, as shown,so that its head may come in contact with the head of rod Fflwhich doesnot project so far beyond its casing.

The construction and operation of the elec trical connecting-rods issimilar to that of the rods shown in Fig. 1, except that they projectdifferent distances beyond their casings. Both the rods, even when attheir outer limit of movement, have their heads well within the chambersof the coupling members, and

are therefore not liable to accidental injury when the members areuncoupled.

The hose-coupling shown in Fig. 9 is also in common use without theelectrical connecting devices. This coupling has similarly con- 6 5structed opposite members, K and K which lap and interlock with eachother, bringing the inner open ends of the cup-like portions L Lopposite each other, the axes of the cups being at right angles to theaxes of the thimbles A A. These cup-like portions are in communicationthrough lateral openings withthe thimbles, and have rubber gaskets d dat their open ends to fit together and form an airtight joint. WVithinsaid cup-like portions are fitted the insulating-casings E E", havinglateral openings 6 to the thimbles. At their outer ends they areprovided with sockets c, and at their inner ends have partial heads orcross-bars eiwith central passages. Through these central passages arearranged the short metallic rods F having their outer projecting endsprovided with contact-heads f and their inner ends inserted in thesockets 6. Inside of the casings the rods have shoulders f", to whichare connected the conductingwires NV, and against the shoulders bear thesprings f to force the heads into contact with each other.

The insulating-casings, as shown in Fig. 10, are each composed of twosemicylindrical parts, which may be taken apart to prevent the insertionof the rod and spring substantially in the same manner as the casings inFig. 1.

In the vacuum-brake hose-coupling shown in Fig. 11 each of the curvedmetallic springs F is secured intermediately to one side of the thiinbleA", but is insulated therefrom. The inner end of the spring iselectrically connected with the conducting-wire IV, and its outer end isprovided with a metal contacthead, fflwhich the spring is bent andadjusted to hold normally a little outside of the gasket so that whenthe two members of the coupling are coupled together the heads of thetwo springs will come in elastic contact with each other, and theirtension will maintain a good electrical connection.

Having fully described my invent-ion and explained the application ofthe same under various conditions, I claim 1. The combination, with thesections of a pipe-coupling and insulating-casings located within thecoupling-sections, said casings provided with skeleton end bearings, ofspringactuated metallic contacts supported in the bearings of theinsulated casings, and electrical conductors connected with saidcontacts, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the sections of a pipe-coupling andinsulating-casings, each made in longitudinal sections, and providedwith two-part end bearings, of spring-actuated metallic contactssupported in the bearings of the insulated casings, and electricalconductors connected with said contacts, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,with the pipe-coupling sections and gaskets D D,secured thereto, of the insulated casings E, metallic contacts .E f,spring f and electrical conductors WV, substantially as set forth.

i. The combination, with two sections of a Intestimony whereofIhavesignedthisspeci- 10 pipe or hose coupling and gaskets ofinsnlatfication in tliepi'esence of two subscribing witing materialattached to each section toform nesses.

an air-tight joint, of insulated casing located 5 within thecoupling-sections, and spring-acbu- HENRY FLAD.

ated metallic contacts supported in bearings of the insulated casing,and electrical conduct- W'itnesses: ors connected with said contacts,substantially A. B. METGALFE,

as set forth. FRITZ HGPPNER.

